Album: The Beatles 1967-1970 (1967)

Charted: 2 1

License This Song 

• In Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs
  Of every head he's had the pleasure to know
  And all the people that come and go
  Stop and say, "Hello"
  
  On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
  And little children laugh at him behind his back
  And the banker never wears a mac
  In the pouring rain, very strange
  
  Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
  There beneath the blue suburban skies
  I sit, and meanwhile back
  In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass
  And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
  He likes to keep his fire engine clean
  It's a clean machine
  
  Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
  A four of fish and finger pies
  In summer, meanwhile back
  Behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout
  The pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
  And though she feels as if she's in a play
  She is anyway
  
  In Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer
  We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
  And then the fireman rushes in
  From the pouring rain, very strange
  
  Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
  There beneath the blue suburban skies
  I sit, and meanwhile back
  Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
  There beneath the blue suburban skies
  Penny Lane! Writer/s: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 77

• Axel Brauer from AustraliaA mack is a raincoat. The lines "the banker never wears a mack in the pouring rain, very strange" indicate the stereotype of a pervert who wears a mackintosh when flashing people. This is similar to the line about a fish and finger pie. The song contains even more sexual innuendo.
• Kev from Rogers, ArI remember roller skating to this song in 1967. I loved it. It was one of my favorite skating songs, along with Snoopy vs. the Red Baron, Winchester Cathedral, and MacArthur Park.
• Kate Avery from Wallingford, Connecticut Love all these in depth tales of the Beatles.......my idols at instant sight and sound . My evil “father “talked All through and made fun of the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show that special night ..I lost all respect for Him. A nasty jealous lousy father. Good riddance.
• Rob from Springfield MbI was 8 when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, and my brother (10) and I loved them then (and love them now). For years Dad said that all he heard was 'yeah, yeah, yeah'. that changed with this song ... he loved it. He was in Liverpool in 1944 and might have caught that same bus. he said this song was exactly what he remembered and it took him back there. After that he may not have 'loved' the Beatles, but he knew there was a lot more to them then 'yeah, yeah, yeah'!!
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 17th 1967, David Mason recorded the piccolo trumpet solo for the Beatles' "Penny Lane" at Abbey Road Studios in London; he was paid 27 pounds, 10 shillings (approximately $42 U.S.) for his performance...
  And in August of 1987, the trumpet he used was sold at a Sotheby's auction for $10,846...
  R.I.P. John, George, and Mr. Mason {1926 - 2011}.
• Roy from Slough, United KingdomAfter the 'Penny Lane' single was released the Penny lane street signs kept disappearing,so they started painting the street signs on the buildings... Then the buildings started disappearing!
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 12th 1967, a video of the Beatles performing "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" was aired on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
  The very next day on February 13th Capital Records released it, and six days later on February 19th it entered Billboard's Hot Top chart at position #85; and on March 10th "Penny Lane" peaked at #1 (for 1 week) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 5 of those 10 weeks is was on the Top 10)...
  When they reached #1 they kept "Happy Together" by the Turtles from making #1, they had jumped from #8 to #2, but the following week they did bumped the Fab Four out of the top spot...
  And of course the flip-side of "Penny Lane" also charted, "Strawberry Fields Forever", reached #8 (for 1 week) and stayed on the Top 100 for 9 weeks...
  R.I.P. John, George, and Mr. Sullivan (1901 - 1974).
• Lowry Cook from Romney, WvYears ago, I took the "Magical Mystery Tour" bus in Liverpool. When on Penny Lane the guide said that the line "Very Strange" from the song was because of a law office on the street which was "Strange and Strange" attorneys. And I saw the door with those names on it. However I can't find any confirmation of this in any of the discussions or the info sites. Anybody know anything?
• Dually from Seattle, WaI recently played both "Penny Lane" and the Beach Boys "California Girls" on the piano. I noticed an amazing similarity in both the cord progression and the melody. Try humming the beginning to both songs in the same tempo, and you might see what I mean. I later learned that "California Girls" was released first.
• Jenny from Liverpool, United KingdomI grew up near Penny Lane in the 80's, and my boyfriend currently lives there. I was astounded to discover as a child that someone had thought my Penny Lane was important enough to write a song about!
• Edward from Henderson, Nv"Paul is Dead" conspiracy note: (remember that Paul supposedly died in a car crash) "And then the fireman rushes in/ from the pouring rain/very strange..." He has just come from the crash site, "You won't believe what just happened!"
• Carl from Apg, MdI've heard that "Penny Lane"/'Strawberry Fields Forever" went out as a single because of the wish for new Beatles recording at that time. Recall that the UK had had the "oldies" album for Christmas 1966 because of the Beatles having no new album at that time.
  
• David from Wolverhampton, United KingdomShort video here of David Mason who played the piccolo trumpet on this famous track. Sadly David died quite recently ( April 2011 ) aged 85, and although he played with many fine orchestras during his long career in music he will be most fondly remembered as the guy who gave ' Penny Lane ' its distictive sound. http://youtu.be/mQyBRS8Nby8
• Jim from Woodland Park, NjThe Beatles originally were going to do a concept album of songs about their childhoods, before they got the idea of "Pepper." Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields were written as the first songs for this album. Always thought it was amazing how much each of the songs reveals about the men they became. Paul's very much a nice portrait of a suburban adolescence, while John's is already dealing with pain and not fitting in.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyThe Beatles second two-sided Top 10 record; 'Penny Lane' peaked at #1 while 'Strawberry Fields Forever' reached #8. By the way 'We Can Work It Out' b/w with 'Day Tripper' was their 1st two-sided Top 10 record, with being #1 and #5 respectively!!!
• Dennis from Fayetteville, GaContrary to above, "four of fish and finger pie" are not unrelated. They are intentionally tied together with the concept of fish fingers (which is another, related British expression). Also, the risque-ness of the description of that phrase may be lightened by simply explaining that it's about getting to third base with a girl. The bigger one makes it, the naughtier it sounds.
• Kurt from Phoenix, AzPenny lane, Words of Love (originally Buddy Holly) Here, There, and everywhere..are just beautiful beyond words. There are groups were phenomenal such as The Who, Herman's Hermits and Stones etc..then there was the Beatles. Enough said!
• George from Belleville, NjListening to Penny Lane is like going on a musical journey.The imagery in the lyrics is astounding.You could just picture in your mind's eye the places and the people that were there.The melody is strong and complex in it's arrangement.This is pop song writing at it's best.A masterpiece.
• K from Nowhere, OnWe're aware that November 11 is Veterans Day in the States. In Canada, and I'm assuming the UK November 11 is Remembrance Day. Don't forget that this is a British song, not an American one.
• Penny from Salem, OrI really wish some of you would get your facts straight before commenting on stuff. when you say that John and Paul had really diverce childhoods yes they did. But Penny Lane is a place where JOHN lived near and JOHN lived near Strawberry Fields. John lived with his aunt, in a more...upper class type area. While Paul lived in I'm not quite sure but a lesser class of a place. And I'm also named after this song! (: by my grandma! haha
• Kevin from Mobile, AlThis is a great Wintertime song. I remember rolling with my older brother and my uncle on a Saturday morning though Dauphin Street and Old Mobile back in 1994, which looks like New Orleans crossed with England, and seeing the people going about their business in Bienville Square (catching the bus, feeding the pigeons, etc.) and that song has been ingrained in my brain ever since.
• Luke from Liverpool, United KingdomThe Cinema John's mum worked in was infact not on penny lane, but next to Picton clock, it was called the Abbey Cinema. its a supermarket now...
• Paul from Columbia, Scone of my favorite beatles song.
• Clubber Lange from Ocean Gate, NjOne of histories examples of a perfectly crafted song....
• Freddy from Tipp City, OhNovember 11 is Veteran's Day. It was originally called Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, the day World War 1 officially ended.
  
  Please note that Veterans Day (Remembrance Day) now commemerates veterans who served in all wars, but originally it was created for the commemoration of the end of WWI on November 11.
• Kate from Austin, TxIn Austin, TX, there is a street called Penny Lane off of Burnet Road. On Penny Lane, there is a set of apartments called "Abbey Road". I thought this was rather awesome, and begged my parents for us to move there. xD
• Penny from Clayton, InI used to hate this song due to my mother naming me after is but the song is growning on me as I get older. Thank you BEATLES
• Phillip from Indianapolis, InI absolutely LOVE the picollo trumpet used in this song
• Noel from Slough, United KingdomPaul McCartney said that John Lennon helped with the third verse,otherwise its mainly a McCartney song,as a rule with Beatles songs whoever sung lead was the main composer
• Tony from Carlsbad, CaMy wife and I loved this song so much we named our daughter "Penny Lane" Now that she's gotten a little older, it turned out to be the perfect name for her...she's just so full of life, just like this song.
• Bertrand from Paris, FranceArguably the crowning achievement of what many consider the greatest band of all time, it's also the clearest possible example of the dichotomy between John and Paul -- the A-side (Penny Lane) is whimsical, inclusive, a little naughty, a story that creates a whole world from small details, while the B-side (Strawberry Fields Forever) is personal, reflective, psychedelic and ultimately a statement of an outsider. A high-water mark for both men.
• Forrest from Rochester, MnThe cleanest, sleekest recording the Beatles ever made, if you are into that sort of thing. Listen to it just before or after "Revolution" or "Everybody's Got Something to Hide..." or "Dig a Pony" and you'll see what I mean. You can't compare it to any of these songs, so it is great just for being what it is.
• Suzannah from Williamsport , Md"keeps his fire engine clean"is about drugs, not sex
• Joe from London, Vtthe beatles were good
• Liam from New York, Nyoldies.about.com/od/thebeatles
  
  This song featured some of the more demanding recording sessions in the Beatles' history. Four piano tracks were used, one being fed through a Vox amplifier to produce the feedback that crops up from time to time. An outside bass player was brought in to add acoustic bass to Paul's electric, heard in the line about "the banker sitting waiting for a trim." Tracks featuring John and George on guitar were eventually edited out of the final mix, as was an arrangement for two oboes and its alto cousin, the cor anglais. Almost none of the piano or vocal tracks are left as is; McCartney's vocal is noticeably sped up, and most other tracks were recorded slower or faster than necessary and then adjusted to match, creating an surreal, daydreamy feeling.
  
• Daniel Celano from Philadelphia, PaThe note says there's no guitar. However on the Anthology 2, the guitar can be heard before Paul's suitable ending.
• Murray from Liverpool, England, England"Four of fish" - Actually, Paul should have written "Four of Chips" as chips (fries) were sold at 4 pence per portion in Liverpool back in 1967 - fich cost much more.
  
  Murray
• Fred from Laurel, MdYes, rizzo, you're right, Nov 11 was the end of WWI. 'The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month' in 1918 when the cease-fire was agreed to, and this was called Remembrance Day. Charles Ives wrote a short piece with this title, I believe. Anyway, this day was known in the US as Armistice Day until 1954, when it morphed into Veterans' Day. VE Day, ending WWII in Europe, was May 7-8, 1945, and VJ Day, ending the war in Japan, and thus, WWII, was Aug 14-15,1945.... By the way, what part of 'nowhere' are you from? Just curious -- I used to live there.
• Krista from Elyria, OhThis is a cute song. I like the first fact! My city has a Penny Lane, but it only has a small development.
• Rick from San Juan, United StatesThe Sgt. Peppers Bistro restaurant that now stands where the "shelter in the middle of the roundabout" used to be, has apparently closed. As of late March 2007, its facade was in very bad shape, and the glass windows were smeared with white paint.
• Krissy from Boston, MaI am a teenage who loves The Beatles. I love this song too. It's a awesome song. Penny Lane is actually a real place.
• Sal from Bardonia , NyThe feedback was caused by a harmonium recorded through a guitar amplifier and also a piano part was recorded thorough guitar amplifier that gives the piano a vibrating type sound. The song features the first known use of piccolo trumpet in rock and the song went number one in the states and number two in the UK.
  Sal, Bardonia, NY
• Fyodor from Denver, CoThey say there's no guitar, but then what's producing the feedback? BTW, in addition to its prominent role in the outro, the feedback can be heard subtly in the background towards the end of the trumpet solo.
• Pete from London, Englandacually penny lanes name was
  
  lady goodman in almost famous
• Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaThe lyrics about a nurse selling poppies from a tray and feeling as though she's in a play could be a nod to the play "Pygmaelion", which the musical "My Fair Lady" was based on.
• Kayla from Coeur D' Alene, IdActually, a "mack" is British slang for a raincoat, I believe.
• Lee from Clearwater, FlErica, You got it. I believe the song is exactly that. Your analogy, your experience is a total reflection. Isn't it funny how things come to light sometimes?
• Zach from Philly, KsThis comes #449 on rolling stones list of 500 greatest songs
• Julian from Anaheim, CaI think the horn section in this song is totally wicked. It really makes the song what it is.
• Erica from Austin, TxWell, i may completely off, but i had a very awaking experience to this song. Last year on the first day of spring my friends and i decided to take 2ci, which is a hulluination. But anyways, we were driving around in this neighborhood and penny lane came on. To me it seemed like this song was just about everything, normal, washing cars on a saturday afternoon, kids playing in the streets, familys taking walks, just enjoying a great saturday afternoon. Before this time i never really got the song. But to me its just about looking around, smiling, and just being happy with the simple things in life?
• Jimmi from Basingstoke, FinlandI think the whole song is shot through with subtle references to suburban sexual perversions. There are references to masturbation, role play, contraception (maybe just rubber?), and fingering - and excellent song! One that, lyrically, seems so pure and innocent yet, when you analyse it . . . Or is it just me?
• Ken from Louisville, KyPaul said the "four a fish and finger pie" lyric was intended as a nod "to all the Liverpool lads who like a bit of smut." He was convinced the American audience wouldn't get it. They didn't.
  
  
• Ellen from Boston, Mai'd like to revise the last song fact... penny lane was not a groupie... she was a BANDAID
• George from Itaberaba, BrazilThis song is very cute, amazing.
• Jaydm from Brisbane, Australiathe best beatles song ever
• Rizzo from Nowhere, United StatesRememberance Day, November 11th, is the day World War I ended. World War Two ended sometime in May I believe (that day goes by VE-Day, Wictory in Europe Day).
• Tony Butler from San Diego, CaJeph, Liverpool, England
  We over here in America are upset that Clinton got elected also! Of course he could pronounce the Noun 'Intern'...
• Nelson from Left FieldFirst of all, British or American, you should know that mac is short for macintosh. Secondly, who gives a f#$$ about grammar. It's factual matter that matters, atleast on a website thats devoted to it.
• Ian from Redmond, WaThe line 'four of fish and finger-pies ...' is a deliberate 'naughty' reference - in fact the two parts of the phrase are unrelated. "Four of fish" means four portions of fish and chips - finger pie is ..um.. (jeez how do I explain this politely) ... the sort of fumblings that take place with a girlfriend in the dark and involves 'insertion' of fingers. Nod * Wink *
• Frank from Westminster, ScThat trumpet part at the end drove me crazy for years! I lived in central NJ at the time it was released. 77WABC-AM in NYC had a "World Exclusive" on Penny Lane for a day or so. They would play it several times an hour, with their announcer intoning "77WABC, New York" and stuff like that every few seconds, talking over the record so that competing radio stations couldn't record it off the air, and play it on their stations! This version of the song, with its piccolo trumpet ending, seared itself into my brain. Shortly thereafter, the song was released with the "feedback" ending, and that's all you ever heard. I wondered for years what happened to that trumpet, until the Anthology came out. Another mystery solv-ed...
• John from London, United StatesPenny Lane got to No 1 in the U.S. on 18 March 1967 for one week, unlike Strawberry Fields, which did not get to No 1 in the U.S. or U.K. A victory, perhaps, for Paul over John.
• Catherine from London, Englanddave mason was offered £1000 for his efforts on this song, or 10% of the royalties for this song.
  he took the £1000
• Trisha from Sanfrancisco, Camy last name is lane and my father wanted to name me penny but my mother said it was too cheap.
• Ken from Louisville, KyActually, it was John that lived in the "Penny Lane" district of Liverpool. Paul liked coming to that area to visit John when they were teenagers because it was livlier than the area he lived.
• Justin from Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaIt is quite clear when listening to Penny Lane and Strawberry fields forever that John and Pauls memories of their childhood are very different... resulting in an upbeat song about penny lane for Paul and a slightly darker Strawberry fields forever for John
• Jeph from Liverpool, EnglandSteve, John Lennon Didn't write all the lyrics, but nor did paul, it was co-written, paul did most of the song, like the musical part of it, paul was the most musically gifted out of the band, he was indeed the only one who could actually read music, as for what u sed abt him being upset? i don't know abt that, i thought it was a double a-side with strawberry fields, but i really don't know. As I sed john lennon came up with the idea of writing a song abt his child hood memmories of the egbeth area (as its called now i think) and the pair took it from there. I'm not going to get into an immature slaggin match abt american and british language skills, as far as i'm concerned we all talk like w***ers, but i must say no most liverpudlian children don't have very good grammer skills! I'm sorry if u don't like what i sed i only wanted to give a you an idea of what its like nowadays in liverpool - from someone who actually lives there.
• Steve from Cincinnati, OhHi, Jeph from Liverpool. If John Lennon came up with the idea, and, wrote the lyrics and, collaborated with Paul, and Paul McCartney merely put the final "touches" on the song, then please explain why John was so upset about this song being the A side to his B side "I Am The Walrus".
  
  By the way, do they no longer teach grammar in Liverpool?
  
  Stevo, Cincinnati, OH.
• Jeph from Liverpool, EnglandHi americans, i live right by penny lane actually, and its actually not much there at all. Paul McArtney didn't write the song, like many beatles songs it was a joint effort between Him and Lennon, with lennon coming up with the idea for the lyrics, while mcartney put the finishing touches on it. The barber shop is now a unisex salon, the sign posts are mostly all bolted down to brick walls, and the ones that aren't are painted over with yellow/blue paint, the junction at the top of penny lane, which joins it to smithdown road is the junction also include the road menlove avenue, where lennon lived, and mather avenue, which includes a small road off it where paul lived. The area isn't too unlike the video, but i've never seen horses go down it. Strawberry fields is a tiny place nearby aswell, that song was abt lennons exeperiances while high. If you ever come to liverpool, the best thing to visit is probably the beatles tour, or cavern club on matthew st. but its worthwile having a look at the other things like penny lane, there is a yellow submarine tour bus which takes u round all the site. By the way when did we critize americans americans for using slang? most of our language nowadays has americanisms in, and we don't have a problem with that! We do however have a problem with your country appointing the most powerful position in the world to a man who cannot pronounce any noun under the sun!!!!
• David from Waco, TxI saw a television interview with George Martin. He said that the morning after McCartney heard Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto#2" he came into the studio and asked what kind of trumpet he had heared.Martin told him and McCartney asked if they could possible get one. Martin said it was almost like a small boy asking for a toy.That must have been a wonderful time.
• Matt from Durham, NhGlad that someone appears to have realized that this song is about an orgy.
• Cap from EarthA Mac is short for Macintosh, or raincoat.
• Dominic from Pittsburgh, PaPoint, but what is a mac, out of curiousity ?
• Travis from Lawrence, KsI find it even stranger that no one in America even knows what a mac is in the first place. It's ironic that we are criticized for our slang-infested form of English, while you Brits make up slang for every noun under the sun.
• Catherine from Glasgow, EnglandI love that line "The little children laugh at (the banker) behind his back, and the banker never wears a mac, in the pouring rain-very strange".
  I think it's funny that it would be so strange to all those scouse kids in the sixties not wearing a mac in the rain when nowadays no one wears macs!
  I also like the way you can hear the liverpool accent when Paul sings "blue suburban skies" and "customer".
• Charles from Charlotte, NcThis song was released with Lennon's 'Strawberry Fields Forever' as a double 'A' side single in February 1967.
• Todd from Atlanta, GaWhile Kate Hudson was nominated for the role of Penny Lane in 'Almost Famous', Marcia Gay Harden actually took home the supporting actress Oscar for 'Pollock.'
• Barry from Seattle, WaChildhood nostalgia was a popular topic in England at the time. The Kinks released "Waterloo Sunset" not long after this.

More Songfacts:

GirlDestiny's Child

Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams wrote "Girl" for Kelly Rowland as an encouragement for her to end her relationship with a verbally and physically abusive boyfriend.

The Man Comes AroundJohnny Cash

The idea for "The Man Comes Around" came to Johnny Cash from a dream he had where he was in Buckingham Palace and the Queen said to him, "Johnny Cash, you're just like a thorn tree in a whirlwind."

PanamaVan Halen

"Panama" by Van Halen is not about the country or the canal, but about a stripper David Lee Roth met in Arizona.

Hey JudeThe Beatles

Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" to comfort John Lennon's 5-year-old son Julian, whose parents were getting a divorce.

Don't Stop Believin'Journey

The "Don't Stop Believin'" resurgence started when the Journey song was used in a roller skating scene of the 2003 movie Monster.

Boot Scootin' BoogieBrooks & Dunn

Ronnie Dunn wrote "Boot Scootin' Boogie" before he teamed up with Kix Brooks to form Brooks & Dunn. It was originally recorded by the country group Asleep At The Wheel, but Brooks & Dunn did it themselves when it got its own line dance.

Editor's Picks

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?